Government Caves in Commons Debate over Brexit Legislation

The Government has narrowly avoided a defeat on its Customs Bill after agreeing to Brexiteer demands to change its wording.

Brexiteers, furious at the fact that the EU and the UK will be closely tied after Brexit, proposed four different amendments to the legislation.

Former Brexit Secretary David Davis rose in the Commons for the first time since resigning to speak on the legislation.

The most significant amendment prevents the UK from collecting duties for the EU unless Brussels agreed reciprocal arrangements. Applying EU tariffs to products destined for the EU has been a crucial part the Chequers Plan.

A further amendment was put forward which now requires the UK to have a separate VAT regime from the EU. The other amendments included ensuring that there cannot be a customs border down the Irish Sea and also to force the government to table primary legislation if it wishes to keep Britain in a customs union.

Defence Minister Guto Bebb resigned last night from his position to vote against the legislation.

The tariff amendment passed by 305 votes to 302 and the VAT passed 303 to 300. 14 Tory MPs rebelled, including Defence Minister Guto Bebb, who resigned from his position to do do. However, 3 Labour MPs sided with the Government, believing that a half-attempt at Brexit is not good enough.

More importantly however, these amendments indicate that the group of Brexiteers is big enough and strong enough to stop a Chequers-style compromise from happening and the Government will not be able to simply ignore this group.